Winter

Winter

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Saturday Morning Chicken Photos


This is a picture of my little flock of Bantams.
I haven't taken pictures of them in a while, they
want to sit and be broody all of the time.
I still kind of wish that I did not get rid of my little
roosters, but these girls were not very friendly to the
boys and every time they got to close the girls beat them
up so bad the little roosters started going the
other way.

This is one of my Cuckoo Marans, she is my buddy.
She follows me every where and always manages
to be outside the gate when I am. I am always afraid
that the fox is hiding and will grab her and take off.

This is another better picture of her. She is a free
thinker, she won't lay her eggs in the nest box but
now has a nest underneath the nest boxes. She is the one
who hides her eggs if I let them out in the yard.

This is one of my New Jersey Giants. I love these hens too
they are gentle and sweet. They are very good layers too.
I am very happy with this bunch of hens this year. I am getting
12 to 15 eggs most days. My older hens are laying too now that it
has cooled off some. My older hens though are starting to molt. I
know that will effect egg production. I have been buying high
protein crumbles and I have stopped getting soft or shell less
eggs. I have noticed they stopped eating eggs too. I had some older
hens that would do that from time to time. I know they have
got lots of produce and fruit this year so I don't know how
that has factored in but it is nice to be getting such nice eggs.

I had to show you this picture, I walked out my front door,
and there was this nutty preying mantis on the door mat.
I didn't see it at first, I heard it making this weird sound.
It ran at my foot hissing. I went back in and got my camera.
It was the perfect model. I suppose it is a girl since they bite the
heads off of their husbands and she looks like she was going to
lay eggs. I have noticed that fall must be on the way, because
I keep finding these crazy bugs like this.
I remember my Grandpa saying, after watching one when I was a kid
that if they were bigger they would take over the world.
After watching this one, it even kept running at me hissing,
I thought there needs to be some horror flick with one of these things
as the bad guy.
I just left it alone and went in the house. Silly bug.

I hope you have a lovely Saturday, and guess what?
Three days until fall officially starts! Yahoo!!

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, for His wonderful works to the children of men!

(Psalm. 107:6)

7 comments:

Verde Farm said...

Love your chicken pics but that praying mantis takes the prize. It is so funny and it looks like all those photos of aliens people say they've been abducted by. I bet the syfy people got lots of great ideas from this character. Thanks for sharing! Happy Saturday
Amy

Kim said...

Yes it does look like it could star in a horror movie. Running and hissing at you??.....there is nothing worse than a bug with attitude!

Kessie said...

At least a praying mantis isn't as horrifying as one of those sun scorpions. I love its wings. How big was it?

Also, I love your chicken pics. You're getting so many eggs, you should make some weird dessert that uses tons, like pound cake or flan. Except you have to burn the top of flan with a kitchen torch.

Meg said...

Wow, what an awesome pic of the praying mantis. It looks so crazy. Maybe it had rabies, lol!

It cracks me up you have a chicken that hides her eggs. What a silly chicken.

And you're right. It is like big projects are your friend!

myletterstoemily said...

i'm going to have bad dreams tonight, with giant
praying mantis women chopping of their husbands'
heads.

your pretty chickens look so "sweet." :)

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Well this city girl who lives on what I call a postage size lot in a neighborhood where the neighbors hear you sneeze...I loved these pictures...too fun.
The praying mantis was the best...my four year old and I saw one the other day and he was so fascinated by it...this picture is better than what we saw live!!! He enjoyed your picture! Can you tell I am a home school mom of boys?
Have a great weekend...thanks for the info on the walking.

Sue said...

Kim,
I always enjoy it when you write about your chickens.My love for them started when I was a little girl spending time at my grandmothers. Your ladies are adorable, and I love an independent lady such as your Cuckoo Maran. We used to have bantams and they were something else too.
Great pic.of the Praying Mantis, they are bold creatures. Maybe that is why they are called Praying Mantis, because they have to repent a lot for being so rude. LOL
Thank you for your well wishes, my burn is doing better.
Blessings, and Hugs, on this beautiful Sunday morning.
Love,
Sue